Game 27: New York Knicks (14-12) @ Denver Nuggets (10-16) - 9:00 PM ET

[ducler]

[NuggetsWY]

Knicks have a winning record and their veterans are playing like veterans should plus they have some young talent. Willy Hernangomez is really looking nice. It's in Denver, but it's going to take an effort like the last game to win this one. I guess that means the Nuggets COULD win.

[Powder Blue]

Great first, ok second, stinky start to the third

[skywalker33]

Looking good going into the 4th

[Chuck Everett]

So was all Mudiay needed was for Gary Harris to return? He looks like a totally different player with Gary in the lineup.

[The Rebel]

I will watch the game tomorrow, listened on the radio and it sounded like a fun game outside of the constant foul calls.

Hard to believe the Nuggets are only 1 1/2 games out of the playoffs right now, as bad as that last road trip was, they are still doing okay I guess.

[RRFB]

So was all Mudiay needed was for Gary Harris to return? He looks like a totally different player with Gary in the lineup.

I'd say that's a big part of it, but this new starting lineup just has so much better spacing. Mudiay had nowhere to go before with Faried and Nurk clogging the lanes.

[NuggetsWY]

I will watch the game tomorrow, listened on the radio and it sounded like a fun game outside of the constant foul calls.

Hard to believe the Nuggets are only 1 1/2 games out of the playoffs right now, as bad as that last road trip was, they are still doing okay I guess.

Just finished watching the game. Those constant foul calls, that's a very real issue. The Nuggets are fouled more often than any team except the Clippers. The announcers have mentioned more than once (ours and national) that the Nuggets reputation is that they are soft and don't like physical play. Teams seem to believe that. What's really bad is that our FT% is 24th in the league.

Two games in a row with great energy - but there were times when the offense went stagnant. Overall though, it was pretty good. This starting lineup seems outstanding. The bench might be struggling a little more, but not too bad. Love Barton & Faried & Murray on the bench - they bring serious energy there. Nelson's actually having a fairly good year. I like his defense and with Harris back, that gives us two guards that play decent or better defense (better acknowledge Barton gives a good defensive effort too) (Murray's also learning how to play NBA defense) - looks promising.

Speaking of guards, Mudiay had a fairly nice game on offense. Nice shooting form and he made shots. He even slammed it home on a fastbreak early in the third quarter (wish he'd do that more when he's in traffic).

The team we've watched for two games can indeed make the playoffs, which some of us had actually hoped for in the pre-season. Color me skeptically hopeful; just hoping they continue with the energy (especially on defense).

[Riko]

So was all Mudiay needed was for Gary Harris to return? He looks like a totally different player with Gary in the lineup.

I'd say that's a big part of it, but this new starting lineup just has so much better spacing. Mudiay had nowhere to go before with Faried and Nurk clogging the lanes.

I agree.
But is he really so good to build a team around him? IMHO No, he does not.

[NuggetsWY]

So was all Mudiay needed was for Gary Harris to return? He looks like a totally different player with Gary in the lineup.

I'd say that's a big part of it, but this new starting lineup just has so much better spacing. Mudiay had nowhere to go before with Faried and Nurk clogging the lanes.

I agree.
But is he really so good to build a team around him? IMHO No, he does not.

Should a team be built around Harris? No, probably not IMHO. However, he is a very nice piece to have. He's a good outside shooter that can handle the ball on a break and finishes well. Most important of all, he's not afraid to play the other team's best guard when we're on defense.

[Riko]

I agree.
But is he really so good to build a team around him? IMHO No, he does not.

Should a team be built around Harris? No, probably not IMHO. However, he is a very nice piece to have. He's a good outside shooter that can handle the ball on a break and finishes well. Most important of all, he's not afraid to play the other team's best guard when we're on defense.

I'm sorry but I probably misled you, I wasn't talking about Harris but about Mudiay.
Harris, on the other hand, could become an important piece of Nuggets' future.

[The Rebel]

Should a team be built around Harris? No, probably not IMHO. However, he is a very nice piece to have. He's a good outside shooter that can handle the ball on a break and finishes well. Most important of all, he's not afraid to play the other team's best guard when we're on defense.

I'm sorry but I probably misled you, I wasn't talking about Harris but about Mudiay.
Harris, on the other hand, could become an important piece of Nuggets' future.

I don't think you can build around Mudiay unless he develops a dependable outside shot, but I do think you can build around Murray, Harris, and Jokic, and keep Mudiay as your backup PG to come in with hustle and energy. Allowing a 3 guard rotation with Murray switching to SG for 5-8 mpg and getting Mudiay 18 mpg at PG. Leaving about 10 mpg for someone like Beasley for the next year or two.

[Chuck Everett]

We have no idea who the Nuggets should build around considering all of their young players are still developing. None of these guys have absolutely broken out as a clear-cut star player. I'm just glad to see Mudiay, Harris and Jokic play well together.

[The Rebel]

We have no idea who the Nuggets should build around considering all of their young players are still developing. None of these guys have absolutely broken out as a clear-cut star player. I'm just glad to see Mudiay, Harris and Jokic play well together.

Sorry but Jokic's stats clearly put him in elite company, even if he only marginally improves he is someone that you can absolutely build around.

[NuggetsWY]

I agree.
But is he really so good to build a team around him? IMHO No, he does not.

Should a team be built around Harris? No, probably not IMHO. However, he is a very nice piece to have. He's a good outside shooter that can handle the ball on a break and finishes well. Most important of all, he's not afraid to play the other team's best guard when we're on defense.

I'm sorry but I probably misled you, I wasn't talking about Harris but about Mudiay.
Harris, on the other hand, could become an important piece of Nuggets' future.

Ahh, sorry, I missed the idea a little. The wife says I do that all the time. LOL
Mudiay? Gotta go with Rebel's response on this one. Mudiay hasn't proven anything except that he can occasionally have a good game. His efforts on defense seem to be improving, but he's not a team leader in that area. If you aren't serious about defense, you'd better be James Harden good on offense to be a team leader. Mudiay still has some bad habits on offense as well. I've stated them enough times, but to add to his hitch-in-his-shot and his jump-to-pass-without-knowing-where-he-is-passing, he's started trying to drive past people. He's pretty good with the ball but he's not lightening quick. I see him like Billups who could drive past people, but only occasionally using speed when he caught them off guard. He drove past people with brains and strength. Let's hope this is a lesson Mudiay is learning.

We've been told that he is a future all-star and going to be the center of the team; but he isn't showing that drive to succeed. I've seen players drafted higher than him not make it in the NBA and he just might be one of those. He's a remarkable young man as a person, from what I can see. So I do hope he succeeds. He's got the physical gifts to be great, but at this point I'm beginning to believe he'll be a great backup, not the center of the team.

[NuggetsWY]

We have no idea who the Nuggets should build around considering all of their young players are still developing. None of these guys have absolutely broken out as a clear-cut star player. I'm just glad to see Mudiay, Harris and Jokic play well together.

Sorry but Jokic's stats clearly put him in elite company, even if he only marginally improves he is someone that you can absolutely build around.

Too early to tell, but Murray looks like he might be a player to build around as well.

[Chuck Everett]

We have no idea who the Nuggets should build around considering all of their young players are still developing. None of these guys have absolutely broken out as a clear-cut star player. I'm just glad to see Mudiay, Harris and Jokic play well together.

Sorry but Jokic's stats clearly put him in elite company, even if he only marginally improves he is someone that you can absolutely build around.

Build around to me, means they will lead you to wins. I honestly could care less about stats if the team is going to be under .500 every year. It's why I don't get amped off anything the T-Wolves are doing. Whether you believe Jokic will be elite is fine, but I'd like to see those numbers continue to be what they are in victories.

[The Rebel]

We have no idea who the Nuggets should build around considering all of their young players are still developing. None of these guys have absolutely broken out as a clear-cut star player. I'm just glad to see Mudiay, Harris and Jokic play well together.

Sorry but Jokic's stats clearly put him in elite company, even if he only marginally improves he is someone that you can absolutely build around.

Build around to me, means they will lead you to wins. I honestly could care less about stats if the team is going to be under .500 every year. It's why I don't get amped off anything the T-Wolves are doing. Whether you believe Jokic will be elite is fine, but I'd like to see those numbers continue to be what they are in victories.

You mean like the last 2 games? Or last season when Jokic was put in as a starter, prior to Gallo going out with injury leaving us without our top 2 forwards? People forget that the Nuggets were 2 games out of the playoffs last year when Gallo got hurt despite having Chandler out for the year, and being the 3rd most injured team at the time. Jokic leads to wins, but he has to have players around him, as shown in the last 2 games which happen to be the only 2 games this roster has been healthy and available all year.

[Chuck Everett]

We've been told that he is a future all-star and going to be the center of the team; but he isn't showing that drive to succeed. I've seen players drafted higher than him not make it in the NBA and he just might be one of those. He's a remarkable young man as a person, from what I can see. So I do hope he succeeds. He's got the physical gifts to be great, but at this point I'm beginning to believe he'll be a great backup, not the center of the team.

I'm curious. What do you think of say Kemba Walker or CJ McCollum? Do you consider these two players to be good? What about Kyle Lowry?

I guess my point is, not every future all-star or all-NBA player looks like one at the age of 20-21. I like Mudiay, think he has a lot of natural talent, but hey if Murray is better for the future, that will be great for Denver. However, I still remember Billups kicking around for awhile and eventually finding his niche. Not every NBA career is linear and Mudiay seems like the type of talent you should be patient with because when it finally clicks for him, it will be special.

Then again, maybe they can trade him to the Spurs for Kyle Anderson or something, so we can see Mudiay develop properly.

[The Rebel]

Sorry but Jokic's stats clearly put him in elite company, even if he only marginally improves he is someone that you can absolutely build around.

Too early to tell, but Murray looks like he might be a player to build around as well.

I agree, I have been very open that I think Murray is a long term keeper with a chance to be very very good, but I would not categorize him as proven in any way at this point.